Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Tomato Sauce, also known as halupki, is a family favorite for both my husband and I. Both of our grandmothers made them regularly, and I’ve come up with my own version that is a perfect combination of our two families’ recipes, only made without grain.

The key to making this family favorite, comfort food Paleo, Grain-Free & Low-Carb Friendly is switching from regular rice to cauliflower rice. And while it may not see like it, you won’t even be able to tell a difference!

Serve with a heaping spoon full of Mashed Potatoes or Mashed Cauliflower for a complete meal.

For this recipe or any similar (meatballs, meatloaf, etc) to check your mixture for correct seasoning, cook a small patty to sample.

Gently peel the outer 8 leaves off the boiled head of cabbage and reserve for the cabbage rolls. With a sharp knife, shave off any thick veins from the outside of the reserved cabbage leaves. Quarter the remaining head of cabbage, cut out the core from each quarter, and place in a Dutch oven or 2-quart (2 L) casserole dish.

Lay a cabbage leaf out in front of you so that where is was connected at the core is toward you and it is curling up. Place one-eighth of the meat mixture about 2 inches (5 cm) from the edge closest to you and shape the meat into a 3-inch (7.5 cm)-wide log.

Fold the 2 inches (5 cm) closest to you over the top of the meat and roll it so that the edge is underneath the meat.

Next, fold the right side of the leaf over the meat (you can trim the sides if there is more than 2 to 3 inches [5 to 7.5 cm] of cabbage).

Repeat with the left side.

Roll the meat forward, toward the farthest edge.

Place the cabbage rolls, seam-side down, in the Dutch oven, casserole dish, crock pot/slow cooker or pressure cooker, along with the cabbage quarters.

Pour the tomatoes and juice over the top, and sprinkle with additional salt and pepper.

Bake: Cover and bake at 350 for 2 hours, or until the rolls are so tender you don’t need a knife to cut them.

Crock-Pot/Slow Cooker: cook on low for 6-8 hours

Pressure Cooker: cook under high or standard pressure for 20 minutes. Allow to naturally depressurize.

Hi! I love cabbage rolls! A couple tips I d like to pass on if I may; One time saver I’ve found is freezing/defrosting the cabbage. This can be done at any time before you prepare your rolls. Freezing the cabbage makes all the water inside it expand, breaking all the fibrous tissues. When the cabbage is defrosted(place in a bowl, so you don’t have water all over the place as it defrosts) you’ll find it’s extremely pliable and will no longer require the boiling step or even cutting off the thick veins. Second tip is to roll the cabbage completely without folding any parts and once you have a cylinder shape, just push the ends inside. It’s holds together really well and saves a bit of time..try it! 😀 Bon appetite